TnT sustains form, raps Air21

MANILA, Philippines - Talk n Text closed in on joint leaders Petron Blaze and Barangay Ginebra as the Tropang Texters completed a sweep of their three-game grind in six days with an 87-82 whipping of the Air21 Express last night in the PLDT MyDSL PBA Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

With a big game from Asi Taulava, Air21 hung around but just couldn’t put up a serious challenge against a surging Talk n Text which turned back Rain or Shine, 90-87, on Tuesday and outlasted Barako Bull, 99-95, in overtime Friday.

“I was really concerned about our ability to play those games but we survived our hell week,” said Talk n Text coach Norman Black.

“It’s important for us because the top two teams are pulling away. If you don’t continue to win, you’ll not be able to catch up,” Black also said.

With earlier wins over Meralco, Alaska Milk and Globalport, the Tropang Texters are now at 6-2, within striking distance of joint leaders Petron Blaze Boosters and the Barangay Ginebra Kings (7-1).

The Express are at 1-8, and will be coming off three straight losses in setting out for their Christmas Day face-off with the Globalport Batang Pier – the curtain-raiser in the keenly awaited Petron-Ginebra showdown.

Jai Reyes, enjoying big minutes on the continued absence of the injury-stricken Jimmy Alapag, rose to the challenge, providing lots of help as the Texters seized the early initiative and stayed in command up to the finish.

The pint-sized guard from Ateneo churned out 15 points, three rebounds and three steals, allowing Black to pace Jayson Castro, who topscored with 21 markers.

Ranidel de Ocampo and Larry Fonacier also provided firepower with 18 and 13 markers, respectively.

Earlier, Barako Bull brandished a fluid motion game to end a month-long slump with a 99-86 drubbing of Meralco, 99-86.

Top gun Ronjay Buenafe scored just three points but Denok Miranda and six other Barako players put in double-digit outputs in a balanced attack keying the Energy Cola’s first win in their last seven games.

“We just kept on pounding the rock and at last, we’re able to break it off,” said Barako Bull coach Bong Ramos. “I was worried the guys might give up, but they pushed themselves and, finally, we got over the hump.”

Scoring their first win since starting the tourney with back-to-back victories over Air21 and Alaska Milk last month, the Energy Cola caught up with the Bolts and the Aces at seventh place at 3-6.

The Bolts fell to their third straight loss and fourth in their last five games.

Behind torrid shooting, the Energy Cola took control almost throughout and were hardly threatened after pulling away in the third quarter.

Miranda, Mick Pennisi and Mark Macapagal bombed away three triples each, Willie Miller and JC Intal fired two apiece and Keith Jensen added one as Barako struck heavily from afar, negating the 20-point explosions of Gary David and Mike Cortez.